A Medway-based shopping centre has won a national award for putting its staff first. Hempstead Valley, a 25 acre site with 51 shops situated near Gillingham, measured up to the requirements of the Investors in People Standard, which provides a framework for improving performance and competitiveness through the continuous development of staff.

Mark Rumfitt, Centre Manager at Hempstead Valley, which employs 46 members of staff, said: “I am delighted that our team has been rewarded for its efforts. When I joined the company in 2006 I realised that the culture behind Investors in People was in place but the processes were not there. “In order to develop the teamwork that already existed, we introduced a weekly management meeting as well as team meetings. Communication between staff has been improved and by updating their surroundings, we have helped them to feel more valued.

“Investors in People is not about how much you spend on training but more about the culture you can create within an organisation. Some of our members of staff have been here for more than 20 years and yet they are still passionate about their jobs. We have an extremely low staff turnover and going through Investors in People has helped us to raise our levels of productivity.”

Hempstead Valley’s assessment was managed by Quality South East, the Investors in People Centre for the region. Karen Chantler, an assessor for Quality South East, commented: “The principles behind Investors in People really shine through in everything that Hempstead Valley does. The managers take great interest in not only the welfare of their staff but also their development.

“The commitment to client service is extremely high throughout the organisation. It is not often that you come across a company in which every member of staff takes such an interest in its image. The team at Hempstead Valley that have been recognised are those that are working hard in the background – the people responsible for the car park, the cleanliness and security of the centre including the toilets – all of whom make it a pleasant place for local shoppers to visit.”

Investors in People accredited companies report numerous benefits including increased productivity, a higher level of customer satisfaction and reduced costs, sickness levels and staff turnover. To find out more about the benefits of Investors in People visit www.qse.org.uk or www.investorsinpeople.co.uk, e-mail info@qse.org.uk or call 01329 822077.

Source: Maxim PR